Daily Devotional
Who Are You Trying to Please?
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
December 28, 2023
Ponder This
Some years ago, I heard about a young pastor who was hired by a church, and one of the ladies in that church said to him, “You’re going to have a difficult time trying to please all 300 of us.” He said, “Madam, there’s only One I’m going to try to please; His name is Jesus. If I please Him, that should be good enough for the rest of you.” Jesus is the One we serve. We don’t primarily serve other people.
Now, there’s only one question that you ask after you bow the knee to Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord, Master, and Savior of your life. It’s the question that the Apostle Paul asked on the road to Damascus, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:6). The best advice anybody ever gave to another person was the advice Mary gave that day Jesus turned water into wine. Mary said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5). You’ll never get better advice than that. Ask Him today, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
- Have you ever asked, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” What makes us hesitant to ask this question?
- How can you discern what the Lord would have you do?
Practice This
Ask “Lord, what do You want me to do?” See what He brings to mind and consider it in light of His Word and the wisdom of other Spirit-filled believers.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
